Chapter 1
a friendly face
the train pulled into Appleton station at4: 35pm, right on was the last train for the first day for the new touring season for autumn's harvest. It was a peaceful town that came into a new discovery that the world went crazy over the new type of tree..the ever-fire pine. A tree that appears burn on an everlasting blaze of glory, throughout the four seasons. The trees have brought thousands of tourists that not only spend money, but make the tourist destination the most popular for the past six months. The groups of people came out of the red and green train named "the Appleton express"
"mommy, can we go see the trees?" a little boy said to his young mother as he was running around her, the mother nodded as the young boy's face lit up.
The last person to come out was a rather strange person, a young man wearing a black leather jacket, a black t shirt with big white letters "don't ask" black leather gloves, blue jeans and black boots. He had a blue dufflebag slung behind the left side of his back that held close. He took off his sunglasses "wow, this place actually is pretty picturesque" the young man said with confusion as he walked off of the platform, there he saw the quaint places that were built before the tourist traps. The town in itself from the young man's research over had fifteen thousand eight hundred and fourteen people, the town obviously grew in popularity the city folks that came in and actually made the towns old residents seem rather uncomfortable. "OK so where is the green leaf motel?" he said looking around the area, thinking that the train station was near all of the hotels but he sadly did not see the building. As he walked off of the station and too the street, he heard the hustle and bustle of the tourist attractions, the screaming children and what sounded like obnoxious polka and country hybrid music. The town was active and the people were friendly...something young man was very foreign to, coming from a city that was always go go go
"green leaf...green leaf..." he said out loud till he felt a tap on his shoulder, the fear went through his heart as he turned around quickly only to see what appeared to be a cop. The cop had a beige outfit on, matching his dark brown hair that actually was cut in the style of a crew cut. His brown eyes were confused as he looked at Zack. "i just got here..."
"umm I didn't mean to startle you sir, I just overheard at the train station that you are actually lost...if you would like to..i could take you to where you need to go" the man said with what appeared to be a heavy southern accent. "shall we go sir?" the young man nodded as he started to walk with him. The two were walking the sidewalk. "so I never seen someone wear so much much black before during the summer.." the cop said trying to feel out the young man.
"truth be told sir, I just hate showing a lot of skin….it makes me feel weird" he said as he walked past the many smiling people but not looking at them, not even with the man who was talking to him. "i actually came here for vacation, getting done with college is very rough" the young man just looked around as he was looking for some necessities "say, where would you go to eat in this town.."
"that would be Maggie's diner, tell ol' markie grasser sent you...she'll give you the "local's discount" OK?" the cop, known now as mark grasser smiled to the young man "so you know my name...what is yours?"
"Zack" the young man told mark, he was trying to look around more in order to find things "say officer, where would you recommend buying things like hygiene and personal care items"
mark pointed to Walt's drug store "just say ol mark sent you" he smiled to the Zack, starting to think that the young man was just a kid trying to get some calm "you can get many things soaps, snacks, basic odds and ends that can make your trip complete" after the two walked for three minutes they were met with a red, yellow and orange building "here you go, your lodging sir" he said as he raised his hand to show him
as the two were staring at the giant eyesore, Zack scratched his head "i though this place was called the green leaf, but it's called "the apple inn...why?" he looked at the mark, understanding Zack's confusion as he explained
"well, when the town started to pick up speed..the strokels decided to change the name and give the place a fresh coat of paint...they never missed a chance to get money"
the two walked into the hotel's lobby, it was a quaint cozy living room-Esqe vibe. The TV had on on some sort of game show. There was an old couple sitting in the chairs, the old woman saw the two walk in "oh sheriff martin, what can I do you for?" the old woman got up from her comfy living chair "what can I do you for..?"
"well as you can see with me Mabel, I have with me a young tourist here who actually had a reservation for a room, under your old name" Mark told the old woman "considering that he actually decided to stay here instead of the "heavenly knights" hotel, I think you can take care of him" mark said to her, giving her the hint to "play nice"
the old woman smiled "well why didn't you say so, EDDIE GET HIS BAG!" the old man got up and tried to take the bag off of Zack, only for him to dismissed by Zack "relax boy, he ain't gonna bite!" Mabel told him.
The awkwardness was secondary only to be eclipsed by the fact that the old man tried to grab him. A roaring feeling of fear and unease evident in his system, unaware it slightly shown in his face "that's fine, I can take it up there myself" Zack said nervously "i prefer to keep my bag with me. The old man didn't care and only went back to his chair. "so I have the money required for the four days..also the reservation confirmation slip". As he handed her the two-fifty and the confirmation letter "will that be all?" Zack asked the Mabel The old woman nodded as she put the cash register in then handed him the key.
Mabel looked at him and said with a suspicious tone "we do house keeping every day at noon, no loud music and breakfast is at seven thirty" the young man took the key and nodded. Mabel looked at the confused sheriff mark "i don't trust the kid, he is dressed one of those rockers with the crazy earring...and he has to have drugs in his bag!"
the sheriff looked unconvinced by the old woman's ludicrous statements "or he rather just wanted to handle his own bag" he said with a smile "if he does give you trouble than you can always give me a call.." the sheriff smiled as he excused himself.
